Graphical indicator

ABSTRACT

A graphical indicator comprising a plurality of first header blocks, a plurality of second header blocks and a plurality of data blocks for forming an indicator matrix is provided. Each of the first and second header blocks has a header graphical micro-unit, and each of the data blocks has a data graphical micro-unit. An array area is formed by the second header blocks and the data blocks. A first virtual line and a second virtual line are respectively formed by virtual centers of the first and second header blocks, and an included angle between the first and second virtual lines is less than 90 degrees.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation application of and claims thepriority benefit of U.S. application Ser. No. 15/903,037, filed on Feb.23, 2018, which is a continuation application of and claims the prioritybenefit of U.S. application Ser. No. 14/731,417, filed on Jun. 5, 2015,which claims the priority benefit of Taiwan application no. 103119595,filed on Jun. 5, 2014. The entirety of each of the above-mentionedpatent applications is hereby incorporated by reference herein and madea part of this application.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a graphical indicator that can be read by usingpattern/image recognition, and the graphical indicator corresponds toindicator data.

Description of Related Art

With advances in printing and electronics, technologies that includegraphical indicators together with visible text information or graphicinformation have been widely applied in daily life. FIG. 1A is a diagramillustrating the coexistence of graphical indicators and maininformation according to conventional art. As shown in FIG. 1A, aplurality of graphical indicators 102 each comprise a group of graphicalmicro-units, and the graphical micro-units are formed on an objectsurface 100. The graphical micro-units are so small that they arevisually negligible or are seen only as a halftone gray background. Thegraphical indicators 102 and the main information 104 (such as the text“APPLE” shown in FIG. 1A) are formed on the object surface 100 (e.g.,the surface of a paper sheet) by printing or other suitable techniques.The graphical indicators 102 correspond to indicator data and do notimpact the viewer's ability to recognize the main information 104.

FIG. 1B is a diagram illustrating an electronic system 110 according toconventional art. An electronic system 110 includes an optical device112, a processing device 114 and an output device 116 designed toperform a pattern/image recognition process for reading the graphicalindicator 102. The optical device 112, the processing device 114 and theoutput device 116 are connected to one another in wired or wirelessmanners. The optical device 112 scans (or photographs) the objectsurface to obtain an enlarged image. Next, the processing device 114identifies a graphical indicator 102 from the enlarged image, convertsthe image of the graphical indicator 102 into digital data, and obtainsadditional information related to the digital data. Lastly, the outputdevice 116 receives the additional information, and outputs theadditional information by a predetermined method. Therefore, based onthe design of the graphical indicator 102, additional information may beencoded and carried on a common object surface such as a page of a book.

FIG. 1C is a schematic diagram illustrating a graphical indicatoraccording to conventional art. As shown in FIG. 1C, one graphicalindicator 102 (an area surrounded by dash lines) is formed by a headerarea 212 and a content data area 214 arranged in accordance with apredetermined rule. Specifically, the header area 212 of each graphicalindicator 102 facilitates in distinguishing the graphical indicators102, and the content data area 214 carries indicator data by using thegraphical micro-units 216. More specifically, considering FIG. 1C forexample, the header information contained in the header area 212provides a reference for determining the orientation and determining theposition and boundaries of the graphical indicator 102 by the electronicsystem 110.

Generally, when a high proportion of all graphical micro-units 216 in agraphical indicator 102 are located within the header area 212, itindicates that the header information contains more details, so that theelectronic system 110 is capable of orienting and positioning thegraphical indicator 102 for recognition more accurately. However, if theheader area 212 is expanded, the capacity of the graphical indicator 102to carry indicator data is reduced. On the other hand, if the graphicalmicro-units 216 are arranged too densely in the content data area 214 orif some of the graphical micro-units 216 in the content data area 214are too far away from the header area 212, the recognition rate may belowered for the graphical indicator 102. Accordingly, it is an importantissue to be solved by persons skilled in the art as how to design agraphical indicator having a suitable arrangement of the graphicalmicro-units 216 in the content data area 214 without overly expandingthe proportion of the graphical indicator 102 occupied by the headerarea 212 to increase the recognition rate.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the invention is directed to a graphical indicator capableof an increased recognition rate for the graphical indicator duringimage recognition process.

The invention provides a graphical indicator, that comprises a pluralityof first header blocks, a plurality of second header blocks and aplurality of data blocks for forming a graphical indicator matrix. Eachof the first header blocks and the second header blocks has a headergraphical micro-unit. Each of the data blocks has a data graphicalmicro-unit. An array area is formed by the second header blocks and thedata blocks. A first virtual line is formed by virtual centers of thefirst header blocks, a second virtual line is formed by the virtualcenters of the second header blocks, and an included angle between thefirst virtual line and the second virtual line is less than 90 degrees.

The invention provides a graphical indicator, which comprises both alinear area and an array area. The linear area comprises a plurality ofheader blocks, and each of the blocks has a header graphical micro-unit.A graphical indicator matrix is formed by the array area and the lineararea.

The dimension of the graphical indicator matrix is M×N, and M and N arepositive integers, respectively greater than 2. The array area iscomprised of a plurality of linear sub-array areas that are positionedso that they are parallel to the linear area. Each of the linearsub-array areas has a plurality of blocks and comprises at least oneheader graphical micro-unit and a plurality of data graphicalmicro-units respectively disposed in the blocks according to anarrangement sequence. The arrangement sequences of all the linearsub-array areas in the graphical indicator matrix are not completelyidentical. Each of the data graphical micro-units is selectively andrespectively disposed in one of a plurality of virtual areas of theblock. The header graphical micro-units represent header information,and the data graphical micro-units represent indicator data.

The graphical indicators are merged into a graphical indicatorstructure. In the graphical indicator structure, the number of the datagraphical micro-units that can be consecutively arranged in each columnof the graphical indicator structure and the number of the datagraphical micro-units that can be consecutively arranged in each row ofthe graphical indicator structure are not over M−1 and N−1.

One of the header graphical micro-units of each of the array areas isselectively disposed at a virtual center of the corresponding block ordeviated from the virtual center of the corresponding block, and therest of the header graphical micro-units are located at the virtualcenters of the corresponding blocks.

Based on the above, in the present invention, the graphical indicator isa matrix comprising header graphical micro-units and the data graphicalmicro-units. By accurately disposing the header graphical micro-unitsand the data graphical micro-units in the graphical indicator matrix,the graphical indicator may provide a more efficient recognition rateduring the image recognition process while maximizing the data payloadfor the graphical indicators.

Several embodiments accompanied with drawings are described in detail asfollows.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings are incorporated in and constitute a part ofthis application. The drawings illustrate embodiments of the inventionand, together with the description, serve to explain the principles ofthe invention.

FIG. 1A is a diagram illustrating a coexistence of a graphical indicatorand main information according to conventional art.

FIG. 1B is a diagram illustrating an electronic system according toconventional art.

FIG. 1C is a diagram illustrating a graphical indicator according toconventional art.

FIG. 2A is a diagram illustrating a graphical indicator according to anembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2B is a diagram illustrating a data block according to anembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2C is a diagram illustrating a graphical indicator structureaccording to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3A is a diagram illustrating a graphical indicator according toanother embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3B is a diagram illustrating a graphical indicator structureaccording to another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4A is a diagram illustrating a graphical indicator according toanother embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4B and FIG. 4C are diagrams illustrating a graphical indicatorstructure according to another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5A is a diagram illustrating a graphical indicator according toanother embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5B is a schematic diagram illustrating a data block according toanother embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6A is a diagram illustrating a graphical indicator according toanother embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6B is a diagram illustrating a data block according to anotherembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6C is a diagram illustrating a graphical indicator according toanother embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a graphical indicator according toanother embodiment of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Reference is made in detail to the present embodiments of the invention,examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Whereverpossible, the same reference numbers are used in the drawings and thedescription to refer to the same or like features.

FIG. 2A is a diagram illustrating a graphical indicator according to anembodiment of the invention. Referring to FIG. 2A, a graphical indicator20 comprises a linear area 220 and an array area 240. The linear area220 comprises a plurality of header blocks 260A, and each of the headerblocks 260A has a header graphical micro-unit A. The array area 240comprises a plurality of linear sub-array areas 242, each of whichcomprises a plurality of data blocks 260B and one or more header blocks260A.

More specifically, in the illustrated embodiment, the graphicalindicator matrix 280 is formed by the header blocks 260A and the datablocks 260B that comprise the array area 240 and the linear area 220.Further, the dimension of the graphical indicator matrix 280 is M×Nblocks, and M and N are positive integers respectively greater than 2.In the present embodiment, M is 5 and N is 4 for example, but theinvention is not limited thereto.

The array area 240 is comprised of a plurality of linear sub-array areas242 parallel to the linear area 220. Each of the linear sub-array areas242 has a plurality of data blocks 260B, at least one header block 260A,and comprises at least one of the header graphical micro-units A and aplurality of data graphical micro-units B respectively disposed in thedata blocks 260B according to an arrangement sequence. Each of the datagraphical micro-units B is selectively and respectively disposed in oneof a plurality of virtual areas 262 of the data block 260B. The headergraphical micro-units A present header information, and the datagraphical micro-units B present indicator data. It should be noted that,the arrangement sequences of all the linear sub-array areas 242 in thegraphical indicator matrix 280 are not completely identical.

Each of the header blocks 260A and data blocks 260B comprises onegraphical micro-unit A or B. In FIG. 2A, the data graphical micro-unitsB illustrated in data blocks 260B merely indicate possible placements ofthe data graphical micro-unit B within the data block 260B, they are notintended to indicate that there are a plurality of data graphicalmicro-units B contained in one single data block 260B. The data blocks260B present a corresponding set of bit values based on the placement ofthe data graphical micro-units B therein, and the header blocks 260Apresent the header information by the header graphical micro-units A.When image recognition is performed on the graphical indicator 20, theheader information can assist the electronic system 110 of FIG. 1B inorienting and positioning. One header graphical micro-unit A′ may beselectively disposed at a virtual center P of the corresponding headerblock 260A, or deviated from the virtual center P of the header block260A as shown in the two alternative positions above and below virtualcenter P as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2C, or in alternative positions leftand right of virtual center P, so as to further assist the electronicsystem 110 for orienting and positioning. Note that only one headergraphical micro-unit A or A′ would be used in each header block 260A,two are shown only to illustrate to potential positions offset fromvirtual center P.

FIG. 2B is a diagram illustrating a data block 260B according to anembodiment of the invention. Referring to FIGS. 2A and 2B, in thepresent embodiment, each of the data blocks 260B is further divided intoa first virtual area 262A, a second virtual area 262B, a third virtualarea 262C and a fourth virtual area 262D, but the number of the virtualareas in each of the blocks is not limited thereto. In otherembodiments, each of the data blocks 260B may be further divided into,for example, 6, 8, 10, 16 or 32 virtual areas. In the presentembodiment, the data graphical micro-unit B is selectively disposed inthe first virtual area 262A, the second virtual area 262B, the thirdvirtual area 262C or a fourth virtual area 262D, such that the block260B may be corresponding to one of the bit values 00, 01, 10 or 11.More specifically, the embodiment of FIG. 2B illustrates that the datablocks 260B represent different bit values according to a position ofthe data graphical micro-unit B relative to the virtual center P withinthe block. As such, the indicator data of the graphical indicator 20 maybe obtained by combining the bit values represented by all the datablocks 260B in the graphical indicator 20.

Referring back to FIG. 2A, in the present embodiment, the graphicalindicator 20 is the graphical indicator matrix 280 having 5 rows and 4columns (M=5, N=4). In other word, M and N are the positive integersrespectively greater than 2. The graphical indicator matrix 280 iscomprised of the linear area 220 and the array area 240, and the arrayarea 240 is comprised of the linear sub-array areas 242 parallel to thelinear area 220. The linear area 220 has four header blocks 260A, andeach of the linear sub-array areas 242 comprises one header block 260Aand three data blocks 260B. The header graphical micro-units A and thedata graphical micro-units B are respectively disposed in the headerblocks 260A and data blocks 260B of the linear sub-array area 242according to an arrangement sequence.

In FIG. 2A, the arrangement sequences of all the linear sub-array areas242 in the graphical indicator 20 are not identical. In the array area240, the header blocks 260A to which the header graphical micro-units Abelong are located on an oblique line through the array area 240, andeach of the data blocks 260B outside the oblique line has the datagraphical micro-unit B. In the present embodiment, the oblique line is adiagonal line across the array area 240, but the invention is notlimited to this arrangement. The graphical indicator 20 comprises atleast M+N−1 number (i.e., 8) of the header graphical micro-units A.

FIG. 2C is a diagram illustrating a graphical indicator structureaccording to an embodiment of the invention. Referring to FIG. 2A toFIG. 2C, a graphical indicator structure I is formed by merging aplurality of graphical indicators 20. The graphical indicators 20 aremerged into the graphical indicator structure I. In the graphicalindicator structure I, the number of the data graphical micro-units Bthat can be consecutively arranged in each column of the graphicalindicator structure I and the number of the data graphical micro-units Bthat can be consecutively arranged in each row of the graphicalindicator structure I are not over 3 (i.e., not over M−1=4 and N−1=3).Therefore, when the image recognition is performed on graphicalindicator structure I, the electronic system is capable of easilyorienting and positioning the header graphical micro-units A in thegraphical indicator structure I after the enlarged image is obtained, soas to substantially increase the recognition rate for the graphicalindicator structure I.

More specifically, referring to FIGS. 2A to 2C, if the header blocks260A in the linear area 220 are regarded as first header blocks and theheader blocks 260A disposed with the header graphical micro-units (A,A′) in the array area 240 are regarded as second header blocks, thefirst header blocks are disposed at one side of the array area 240 andhorizontally arranged in the linear area 220 of the graphical indicatormatrix 280, and the second header blocks are obliquely arranged in thearray area 240 of the graphical indicator matrix 280. A first virtualline formed by the virtual centers P of the first header blocks and asecond virtual line formed by the virtual centers P of the second headerblocks forms an included angle, and the included angle is less than 90degrees (referring to FIG. 2C).

It should be noted that, regardless of whether the graphical indicatorstructure I in FIG. 2C is inverted, the header blocks 260A to which theheader graphical indicators A belong are all arranged into a pluralityof Z-shapes. In other words, the arrangement of the header blocks 260Ato which the header graphical micro-units A belong remains unchangedeven if the graphical indicator structure I is inverted. For thegraphical indicator structure I as described above, if the electronicsystem performs the recognition and intends to read the indicator datawhen the graphical indicator structure I is inverted, a recognitionerror may occur because the header graphical micro-units A cannot beused for orienting correctly and positioning correctly.

In order to solve the aforesaid issue so that the system can determinethe proper orientation, as noted above one header graphical micro-unitA′ in each of the array areas 240 can be deviated from the virtualcenter P of the corresponding header block 260A. In FIGS. 2A to 2C, theheader graphical micro-units A′ illustrated in header block 260A merelyindicate possible placements of the header graphical micro-units A′instead of marking that there are a plurality of the header graphicalmicro-units A′ contained in one single header block 260A. Distances fromthe blocks 260A, to which the header graphical micro-units A′ belong, tothe neighboring two of the linear areas 220 are not equidistant (L1 isnot equal to L2), and the rest of the header graphical micro-units A arelocated at the virtual centers P of the corresponding header blocks260A. Accordingly, by deviating one header graphical micro-unit A′, theelectronic system may determine a relation between the relativepositions of the header graphical micro-unit A′ and the header graphicalmicro-units A in the neighboring linear areas 220 for furtherpositioning the graphical indicator structure I.

In the present embodiment, distances from the header blocks 260A, towhich the header graphical micro-units A′ deviated from the virtualcenter P belong, to neighboring two of the linear areas 220 (or theheader blocks 260A of the neighboring linear area 220) are notequidistant. It should be noted that, if the arrangement of the headerblocks 260A to which the header graphical micro-units (A, A′) belongcorrespondingly changes when the graphical indicator structure I isinverted, one header graphical micro-unit A′ in the array area 240 maybe selectively disposed at the virtual center P of the correspondingheader block 260A or deviated from the virtual center P of thecorresponding header block 260A.

Referring back to FIG. 2A, in another embodiment of the invention, whenthe header block 260A has the header graphical micro-unit A′ deviatedfrom the virtual center P, the block 260A may also correspond to one bitvalue. More specifically, when the image recognition is performed on theimage of graphical indicator 20, the electronic system may furthercalculate for the bit value (or bit values) represented by the headerblock 260A according to the relation between the relative position ofthe header graphical micro-unit A′ to the virtual center P of the headerblock 260A. In other words, by using the header graphical micro-unit A′in the header block 260A, the amount of the indicator data carried inthe graphical indicator 20 may be increased. Moreover, even if thegraphical indicator structure does not require the header graphicalmicro-unit A′ to be deviated from the virtual center P, the headergraphical micro-unit A′ can still be used in this way to increase theamount of the indicator data carried in the graphical indicator 20.

FIG. 3A is a diagram illustrating a graphical indicator according toanother embodiment of the invention. FIG. 3B is a diagram illustratingalternative graphical indicator structure according to anotherembodiment of the invention. Referring to FIGS. 3A and 3B, a graphicalindicator 20A is the graphical indicator matrix 280 having 4 rows and 4columns (M=4, N=4). Similarly, the graphical indicator matrix 280 of thegraphical indicator 20A is comprised of a linear area 220 and the arrayarea 240, and the array area 240 is comprised of the linear sub-arrayareas 242 parallel to the linear area 220. The linear area 220 has fourheader graphical micro-units A, and each of the linear sub-array areas242 has one header graphical micro-unit A and three data graphicalmicro-units B which are disposed in the header blocks 260A and datablocks 260B according to an arrangement sequence. The arrangementsequences of all the linear sub-array areas 242 in the graphicalindicator 20A are not identical. More specifically, in the array area240, the header blocks 260A to which the header graphical micro-units Abelong are located on an oblique line through the array area 240, andeach of the data blocks 260B outside the oblique line has a datagraphical micro-unit B. One of the header blocks 260A on the obliqueline is adjacent to the linear area 220. The graphical indicator 20A atleast comprises a M+N−1 number (i.e., 7) of the header graphicalmicro-units A.

As similar to the graphical indicator 20 in FIGS. 2A to 2C, if theheader blocks 260A in the linear area 220 of the graphical indicator 20Aare regarded as first header blocks and the header blocks 260A disposedwith the header graphical micro-units (A, A′) in the array area 240 areregarded as second header blocks, the first header blocks arehorizontally arranged in the linear area 220 of the graphical indicatormatrix 280, and the second header blocks are obliquely arranged in thearray area 240 of the graphical indicator matrix 280. In this case, afirst virtual line formed by the virtual centers P of the first headerblocks and a second virtual line formed by the virtual centers P of thesecond header blocks forms an included angle, and the included angle isless than 90 degrees (referring to FIG. 3B). Unlike the graphicalindicator 20, the second header blocks of the graphical indicator 20Aare not arranged on the diagonal line of the array area 240 extendingfrom corner to corner of the array area 240.

In FIG. 3B, it can be seen that in a graphical indicator structure IA,the number of the data graphical micro-units B that can be consecutivelyarranged in each column of the graphical indicator structure IA and thenumber of the data graphical micro-units B that can be consecutivelyarranged in each row of the graphical indicator structure IA are notover 3 (i.e., not over M−1=N−1=3). In addition, similar to FIG. 2C,regardless of whether the graphical indicator structure IA is inverted,the header blocks 260A to which the header graphical micro-units Abelong shows the same arrangement. Therefore, by deviating one headergraphical micro-unit A′ in each of the array areas 240 from the virtualcenter P of the corresponding header block 260A, the electronic systemcan determine a relation between relative positions of the header block260A and the neighboring linear areas 220 when the recognition isperformed to thereby further positioning the graphical indicatorstructure IA.

The design of the graphical indicators is not limited only to theembodiments in FIGS. 2A to 2C and FIGS. 3A to 3B. FIG. 4A is a diagramillustrating a graphical indicator according to another embodiment ofthe invention. FIG. 4B and FIG. 4C are diagrams illustrating a graphicalindicator structure according to another embodiment of the invention. Ascompared to the graphical indicator 20 in FIG. 2A, a graphical indicator20B in FIG. 4A comprises three linear sub-array areas 242, in which twoof the linear sub-array areas 242 have the same arrangement sequence forthe header graphical micro-unit A and the data graphical micro-unit Bwhile one of the linear sub-array area 242 has a different arrangementsequence for the header graphical micro-unit A and the data graphicalmicro-unit B. In the array area 240, the positions of the header blocks260A to which the header graphical micro-units A belong cannot becrossed by one oblique line across the array area 240.

Referring to FIG. 4B and FIG. 4C, unlike graphical indicator structuresI and IA, in this embodiment the arrangement of the header blocks 260Awhen the graphical indicator structure IB is not inverted (FIG. 4B) andwhen the graphical indicator structure IB is inverted (FIG. 4C) aredifferent. Under such circumstance, it is not necessary to deviate theheader graphical micro-units A in the array area 240, and the electronicsystem is capable of positioning and orienting directly through theheader graphical micro-units A of the graphical indicator 20B. In thisdesign, the amount of indicator data carried in the graphical indicator20B may also be effectively increased by deviating the position of theheader graphical micro-unit A′ from the virtual center of the headerblock 260A.

FIG. 5A is a diagram illustrating a graphical indicator 30 according toanother embodiment of the invention. FIG. 5B is a diagram illustrating adata block according to another embodiment of the invention. Referringto FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B, a graphical indicator 30 comprises the headergraphical micro-units A and the data graphical micro-units B, which aredisposed in header blocks 360A and data blocks 360B respectively. Thedata graphical micro-units B are selectively and respectively disposedin one of a plurality of virtual areas 362 of the data block 360B.Unlike the foregoing embodiments, each of the blocks 360B is furtherdivided into a first virtual area 362A, a second virtual area 362B, athird virtual area 362C, a fourth virtual area 362D, a fifth virtualarea 362E, a sixth virtual area 362F, a seventh virtual area 362G and aneighth virtual area 362H. In other words, possible positions fordisposing the data graphical micro-units B surrounds the virtual centerP in an encircling manner for example. The data graphical micro-unit Bis selectively disposed in one of the first virtual area to the eighthvirtual area (362A to 362H), so that the data block 360B corresponds toone of bit values 000, 001, 010, 011, 100, 101, 110 and 111. As in theprior discussions, the representation of multiple data graphicalmicro-units B in one data block 360B is only to show the variouspositions available for the data graphical micro-unit and does notindicate the presence of multiple data graphical micro-units in one datablock 360B.

The design for the data block 360B still uses the position of the datagraphical micro-unit B relative to the virtual center P of the datablock 360B for indicating the bit value represented by the block 360B.However, in the present embodiment, the valid number of bits in the bitvalue is increased by one bit as compared to the bit value in theembodiment of FIG. 2B. In other words, the amount of the indicator datacarried by the graphical indicator 30 may be effectively increasedwithout increasing the density of the data blocks 360B in the graphicalindicator 30.

FIG. 6A is a diagram illustrating a graphical indicator 40 according toanother embodiment of the invention. FIG. 6B is a diagram illustrating adata block according to another embodiment of the invention. Referringto FIG. 6A and FIG. 6B, each of data blocks 460B and 460B′ of graphicalindicator 40 is divided into a first virtual area 462A, a second virtualarea 462B, a third virtual area 462C and a fourth virtual area 462D.Yet, the data block 460B′ corresponds to a bit value or several bitvalues based on the position of the data graphical micro-unit B withinthe virtual area (462A to 462D) where the data graphical micro-unit B islocated.

Referring to FIG. 6B for example, even if the data graphical micro-unitsB are all disposed in the first virtual area 462A, the position of thedata graphical micro-unit B within the first virtual area 462A can stillenable the data block 460B′ to represent bit data 000 or 001. Forexample, the data graphical micro-units B in the data block 460B′ may bedisposed on a position closer to the edge of the data block 460B′. Inorder to prevent the data graphical micro-unit B being mistakenlygrouped as part of the neighboring data block 460B′ for being too closeto the edge of the data block 460B′ when two consecutive data blocks460B′ are disposed on the same row, the data blocks 460B and the datablocks 460B′ may be disposed in an alternating manner.

FIG. 6C is a diagram illustrating a graphical indicator according toanother embodiment of the invention. As in FIG. 6A, graphical indicator40′ comprises the data blocks 460B and the 460B′ on each row of datablocks disposed in an alternating manner. It will be noted that thegraphical indicator 40′ and the graphical indicator 40 use differingpositioning methods for the header graphical micro-units.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a graphical indicator according toanother embodiment of the invention. Referring to FIG. 7, in comparisonwith the embodiment of FIG. 2A, graphical indicator 70 is a graphicalindicator matrix 780 also having 4 rows and 4 columns (M=4, N=4), butthe arrangement of linear area 720 and a plurality of linear sub-arrayareas 742 in the graphical indicator matrix 780 is different from thatof the linear area 220 and the linear sub-an-ay areas 242. Otherdetailed settings regarding the graphical indicator 70 may refer torelated descriptions for aforesaid graphical indicators 20, 20A to 20B,30, 40, 40′, which are not repeated hereinafter.

In summary, in the present invention, a graphical indicator is agraphical indicator matrix, which comprises header graphical micro-unitsand data graphical micro-units. By accurately positioning the headergraphical micro-units and the data graphical micro-unit in the graphicalindicator matrix, the graphical indicator may provide a betterrecognition rate during the image recognition process.

Although the present disclosure has been described with reference to theabove embodiments, it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in theart that modifications to the described embodiments may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit of the present disclosure. Accordingly, thescope of the present disclosure will be defined by the attached claimsand not by the above detailed descriptions.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variousmodifications and variations can be made to the structure of the presentinvention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention.In view of the foregoing, it is intended that the present inventioncover modifications and variations of this invention provided they fallwithin the scope of the following claims and their equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A physical object comprising a graphicalindicator, wherein the graphical indicator is for storage of informationand is disposed as part of and visible on the object, the graphicalindicator comprising: an indicator matrix comprising: a plurality offirst header blocks; a plurality of second header blocks, wherein thesecond header blocks are arranged oblique relative to the first headerblocks, and wherein each header block of the first and second headerblocks represents header information that provides a reference fordetermining an orientation and a position of the indicator matrix; andplurality of data blocks representing data different from the headerinformation.
 2. The object of claim 1, wherein a first virtual line isformed by virtual centers of the first header blocks, a second virtualline is formed by the second header blocks, and an included anglebetween the first virtual line and the second virtual line is less than90 degrees.
 3. The object of claim 1, wherein the first header blocksare along a row or a column of the indicator matrix.
 4. The object ofclaim 3, wherein a first of the first header blocks is adjacent to oneof the second header blocks.
 5. The object of claim 4, wherein the firstof the first header blocks is at a corner of the indicator matrix, andwherein the one of the second header blocks is also adjacent to at leasttwo of the data blocks.
 6. The object of claim 4, wherein the first ofthe first header blocks is adjacent to a second of the first headerblocks, and wherein the second of the first header blocks is at a cornerof the indicator matrix.
 7. The object of claim 1, wherein: theindicator matrix comprises a linear area and an array area; the arrayarea comprises a plurality of linear sub-array areas parallel to thelinear area; the first header blocks are arranged within the lineararea; the second header blocks are arranged within the array area andoblique relative to the first header blocks.
 8. The object of claim 7,wherein the data blocks are arranged within the array area.
 9. Theobject of claim 7, wherein the first header blocks are disposed at oneside of the array area.
 10. The object of claim 1, wherein each of thefirst header blocks and the second header blocks has a header graphicalmicro-unit, and wherein each of the data blocks has a data graphicalmicro-unit.
 11. The object of claim 10, wherein the header graphicalmicro-unit of one of the second header blocks is deviated from a virtualcenter of the one of the second header blocks, and wherein the headergraphical micro-unit of another of the second header blocks is locatedat a virtual center of the another of the second header blocks.
 12. Theobject of claim 1, wherein the data blocks are decodable based at leaston an arrangement of the first and second header blocks.
 13. The objectof claim 1, wherein the indicator matrix is disposed on a surface of theobject, and wherein the indicator matrix is associated with additionalinformation also disposed on the surface and surrounding the indicatormatrix.
 14. A system to process the graphical indicator of the object ofclaim 1, the system comprising: an optical device configured to obtainan image of the object, wherein the image comprises the graphicalindicator; and a processing device configured to convert the graphicalindicator into data based on the first header blocks, the second headerblocks, and the data blocks.
 15. A method comprising: obtaining, by anoptical device, an image of a graphical indicator disposed as part ofand visible on a physical object, wherein the graphical indicatorcomprises: an indicator matrix comprising: a plurality of first headerblocks; a plurality of second header blocks, wherein the second headerblocks are arranged oblique relative to the first header blocks, andwherein each header block of the first and second header blocksrepresents header information that provides a reference for determiningan orientation and a position of the indicator matrix; and a pluralityof data blocks representing data different from the header information;and converting, by a processing device, the graphical indicator intodata based on the first header blocks, the second header blocks, and thedata blocks.
 16. The method of claim 15, wherein the convertingcomprises decoding the data blocks based at least on an arrangement ofthe first and second header blocks.
 17. The method of claim 15, whereina first virtual line is formed by virtual centers of the first headerblocks, a second virtual line is formed by the second header blocks, andan included angle between the first virtual line and the second virtualline is less than 90 degrees.
 18. The method of claim 15, wherein thefirst header blocks are along a row or a column of the indicator matrix.19. The method of claim 15, wherein a first of the first header blocksis adjacent to one of the second header blocks.
 20. The method of claim15, wherein: the indicator matrix comprises a linear area and an arrayarea; the array area comprises a plurality of linear sub-array areasparallel to the linear area; the first header blocks are arranged withinthe linear area; the second header blocks are arranged within the arrayarea and oblique relative to the first header blocks.